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The toughest test: schoolchildren facing uncertain future
Monday, 7 September 2009
enlargeToday, as thousands of our schoolchildren face an uncertain future, this newspaper pledges to help families get through the transfer maze . . . and we demand an end to the chaos
The coming few months will be a period of great uncertainty for thousands of families in Northern Ireland. The children who are due to transfer from primary school — and their parents — are entering uncharted waters.
The abolition of the 11-plus examination has not ended academic selection, but instead created a new unregulated process, which has all the deficits of the past system and not even the merit of familiarity or simplicity.
In November and December an estimated 12,000 children will sit examinations set by 68 schools, mostly grammars, and evenly split between the state and Catholic education sectors.
Each sector will have its own set of tests, all set in defiance of Education Minister Caitriona Ruane who wants schools to use non-academic criteria when determining their pupil intakes.
Such is the confusion surrounding the transfer process, many parents are contemplating allowing their children to sit both sets of tests to give them the best chance of obtaining a grammar school place. That is ridiculous pressure to put on children at a tender age.
Over the next two weeks this newspaper will be guiding parents and children through the tortuous education maze. We will be giving guidance on the options available and bringing to you the opinions of those who matter most, the parents and children at the centre of this education melt-down.
We will also be giving every reader six booklets containing hundreds of sample questions to help prepare for the tests later in the year. While the situation is far from ideal, it has to be approached in a pragmatic manner to ensure that the children make the most of their talents.
The educational pathways taken by children now may well influence their entire lives, hence the importance of taking the right decisions. The great pity is that those who should play the central role in setting in place a process which will make the educational choices simple and straightforward — the Education Minister, her fellow Executive and Assembly colleagues and the schools which are determined to defy the Minister’s wishes — have failed both the parents and children.
The P7 children who are transferring to secondary level education should not have been placed in a position where the outcome of any choice they make — either to sit one, all, or none of the tests — can still leave their future options unclear.
Indeed, the courts may well be the final arbiters in this year’s transfer process as parents seek redress for what they feel is an unjust system.
What is evident is that the impasse between the Minister, the other political parties and the schools must be resolved before next year. It will be interesting to see if they can pass that test.
Thousands of children facing transfer trauma
Parents choose to ignore Education Minister’s warnings
By Kathryn Torney
Up to half of Northern Ireland’s 23,500 Primary 7 pupils will sit the controversial new school entrance exams this autumn, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.
It has been confirmed that 6,000 children have registered for the Association for Quality Education (AQE) tests. AQE is compiling its tests for 34 schools — mainly in the Protestant sector.
And it is now known that up to 6,000 schoolchildren are expected to sit the entrance exams offered by 34 schools from the Post-Primary Transfer Consortium which is using tests run by English exam company GL Assessment.
These schools are mainly Catholic grammars, but also include some state and integrated schools.
A spokesman for this group said: “We are estimating that we will have received between 5,000 and 6,000 applications by the closing date of September 18.”
Thousands of families have ignored warnings and advice from Education Minister Caitriona Ruane to register their sons and daughters for the tests in English and Maths being set by 68 schools.
However, they now face a potentially heavy financial and emotional burden in preparing for the tests — with some paying £28 an hour for tutors as well as buying practice papers.
Some families will have signed their children up for both testing systems to increase their chance of gaining a grammar place.
This will mean them sitting up to five English and Maths exam papers on Saturday mornings in November and December.
In recent years, around 15,000 children sat the 11-plus exam.
Ms Ruane has called on all post-primary schools to set non-academic selection criteria and to give special consideration to children entitled to free school meals.
She has insisted that parents do not need to put their children in for tests — but has also admitted that applications to grammars are unlikely to be successful if children do not sit tests. They would only gain entry if the school they applied to had less applications than places available.
Non-selective secondary schools are likely to follow the non-academic admissions criteria guidance set by the Minister.
When asked for her response to the registration figures, Ms Ruane said: “Our current Primary 7 children will be the first to transfer to post-primary schools without |having to endure the 11-plus.
“I know that every parent wants the best education for their child and I believe this can be achieved without the stress caused to 10-year-olds by selection tests.
“Across the north of Ireland we have many excellent schools providing educational pathways that best meet the needs of children, without the need for admissions tests.
“A minority of schools have said they will continue to select and reject children by testing them. Most of these schools are already accepting a wide ability range — why do they need to submit |children to tests before they can obtain the education that all are entitled to?”
Billy Young, from AQE, said: “AQE has said all along that the |assessments take account of the Northern Ireland curriculum and that any young person, in any school in Northern Ireland, should be able to tackle the papers. We are keen that as many as possible should try it — particularly young people in disadvantaged areas.”
Ulster Unionist education spokesman Basil McCrea said parents just wanted to do the best for their children. “It is not the easy option to put your child in for the tests, so no family will have taken this decision lightly,” he said.
“For many people education is the single most important issue to be dealt with in Northern Ireland. It is not policing and justice or the war in Iraq, it is all about their children’s education.
“What these figures also demonstrate is that everyone is ignoring the Minister’s call to have nothing to do with the tests.
“She will probably say that legal challenges will follow but what she should be focusing on is engaging with others to find an agreed way forward.”
Have you any questions for the Education Minister Caitriona Ruane? Email
Kathryn Torney: ktorney@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
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Comments
28 Comments
The reason people wish testing to continue is that they believe THEIR child will benefit; it's a well known behaviour trait called the 'Lake Wobegon' effect. This effect is named after the fictitious eponymous town of Lake Wobegon, where all the women are above average in beauty and all the men above average in strength.
Statisticians and Mathematicians will of course see the impossibility of everyone in a population being 'above average'. Parents favouring academic selection are falling into this behavioural trap; they think their child is 'above average' and will therefore benefit from any test system!
(Yes, yes I know your Tarquin is really above average.........)
Posted by Exasperated | 09.09.09, 15:26 GMT
does the sinn fein minister of education REALLY understand that its the children and their families that want testing to continue. Neither the 11+ or new tests are compulsary but we have been CHOOSING to do them. Are the kids so wrong by wanting to pick their own school instead of their closest one. So the minister has failed 12,000 kids who are CHOOSING to sit them.
P.S my kids faced selection from 8yrs with football and netball teams, drama clubs and school choir and band all the way up to job interviews. ITS LIFE
Posted by sean (let down by ruane) | 09.09.09, 11:10 GMT
Catriona should stick to the task ahead. giving all the children of the country a fair and equal education. The winds of change are blowing and some people dont like it, this doesn't mean she is wrong. She is 100% right in what she is doing.
Posted by liam | 08.09.09, 18:23 GMT
Pro selectionists delight in quoting that "64% of those who responded to the Governments' own household survey" support continued testing of 10 and 11 year olds.
Why! Oh Why, they moan, does the minister not act in a 'democratic' way and bow to the wishes of this majority?
The actions of the grammars have inadvertently provided a better 'referendum' for parents. Now parents must ‘opt in’ to this inequitable system.
I wonder if the majority of parents do not register for these rouge tests, will the grammars bow to the democratic will of the majority and cease such harmful practice?
It will be interesting to see…..
Posted by Exasperated | 08.09.09, 12:08 GMT
Circa 12000 children are expected to sit the AQE or GL tests and early indications are that Catholic children are opting for both but Protestant pupils are going for the AQE only.
Many interesting outcomes lie ahead.
Posted by George | 08.09.09, 10:04 GMT
As any lower income working class person will know at least basing being able to get into secondary level school by academic ability there was no postcode lottery. Now if your parents can afford to live in a certain area or pay privately or else not work to ensure that as a free school meals pupil you are pushed higher up the list you are up the left ! I have supply taught in many good secondary school but also some horrendous ones where i would in no way want my baby when he grows up to be taught in ! The bad behaviour, cheek and poor teaching because the poor teachers have to deal 90 % with classroom discipline as opposed to actually teach..
Posted by Mrs H Hanna | 08.09.09, 10:00 GMT
i firmly believe the current scenario is a isgrace. It seems as though C R (the silly incompetent women ) is trying to making a religious viewpoint and doesnt care a dam about wee ones stress levels.
As a teacher I can see perhaps the 11 plus wasn't the correct tool however it is a lot better than no tool and or the hash that there is now.....
Posted by Mrs H Hanna | 08.09.09, 09:59 GMT
The Belfast Telegraph is just trying to jump on a bandwagon as it thinks most of its middle class readers think this way. It is nothing to do with what is right - all about selling papers. Besides, it has been anti-Ruane since the day she stepped into the position.
Posted by Bored | 08.09.09, 05:55 GMT
I do not believe that the proposed tests are uncertain, confused or traumatic. The intentions of the state and Catholic grammar schools are crystal clear.The time table and bases of the tests are known. If pupils take the minimum required by the AQE or the GL tests then they will be tested for as long as they were under the old transfer system.
If they take both to optimise their chances of a grammar school place they take advantage of a benefit not available under the old system (2 shots at the same goal) and a disadvantage - more stress from testing.
What is wrong is that under the direction of the Department they are being prepared unevenly across the province!
Posted by Michael Dubitante | 07.09.09, 20:50 GMT
Minister
When are you going to move to another post? You have succeeded in alienating most of the educational and parental world with your frankly rather ham-fisted attempts at reform.
Will you step aside soon and leave the position to someone who can bring everyone involved into discussion on a long overdue overhaul
Paddy Donnelly
Posted by Paddy Donnelly | 07.09.09, 19:44 GMT
Perhaps when those who wish to have their children take a test have done so, the minds of all the editors, lobby groups etc might devote the same energy and concern as to how appropriate educational opportunity might also be provided to the children deemed unsuited to 'academic education' at eleven years of age.
What suggestions do such enlightened supporters of selection have for this cohort of children? Surely these children are worthy of equal consideration?
Does the BT editor or educational correspondent have suggestions for consideration, booklets giving guidance on dealing with special needs to give away as supplements, etc.?
Surely we have moved beyond training such children to know their place in society and prepare for a manual labour future? Or have we??
Surely an educated and mature society would have equal concern for all its children.
Posted by mark | 07.09.09, 18:18 GMT
Any one with any understanding of education here could have foreseen this chaos when Mr McGuinness declared that academic selection would end.
Now years later, Sinn Fein and Education Minister Mrs Ruane, continue to paint themselves into a corner, as regards the issue. Their stance, which is in opposition to 64% of those who responded to the Governments' own household survey, leaves no room for compromise or manoeuver.
Mrs Ruanes' intransigent attitude and socialist agenda, that removes parental choice, left Grammars with no other option than to go it alone and devise their own entrance tests. The vast majority of Secondary teachers that I know, are thankful the Grammars took this step. It stopped our system mirroring the failed English Comprehensive system. Most parents I believe, accept that some form of testing is necessary and the fairest way forward.
p s This comment is not a rant against Sinn Fein. Mr Murphy, Ms Gildernew and others are doing good work in their roles.
Posted by T J McClean | 07.09.09, 16:37 GMT
Surely Ms Ruane's policy of giving preference to children on "Free School Meals" is totally discriminatory and does nothing to help schools. Children should be admitted by ABILITY, not because they have free meals and are deemed "poor". This is discrimination against ordinary families. Ms Ruane is the Minister for Discrimination. She should announce the date for her resignation, that would be better for everyone
Posted by brian | 07.09.09, 16:21 GMT
@Farrah, we're nearly in agreement ;) unlike our politicians...
I believe the problem is because Ms Ruane tried to dictate her way after she failed to reach consensus, and as a result schools are now rebelling in the absense of an agreed regulated system. So my point stands, she tried to dictate her way, people haven't agreed and now we have a mess.
I agree with your 2nd paragraph, it's nonsense and is because agreement wasn't reached before the ball started rolling.
Ms Ruane hasn't "allowed" the schools to do as they please, they are doing so in defiance of her.
Posted by M A | 07.09.09, 15:10 GMT
This situation is criminal. Thousands of innocent children and their families have been thrown into stress and uncertainty by an inept Minister. It is one thing to be obsessed by the removal of Grammar schools in the interests of 'equality' or whatever. It is another matter when the reform is half-baked and against the wishes of many. The reforms shold bring clarity above all else. The present unregulated system is a recipe for potential disaster: given the circumstances it has all been too rushed.
Shame on the Minister and the wider political body. This is a serious issue.
Posted by RH | 07.09.09, 14:37 GMT
Why some people below are trying to make this a traditional sectarian catholic versus protestant debate? And this isn't about working class v middle class either, this is about what is best for our children and we are all entitled to our opinion, we are all educated to look at the pro's and con's of academic selection, and the simple fact is the vast majority are in favour of keeping it.
Caitriona Ruane has in my opinion got this very wrong, there was no consultation and the whole thing is a sham. Sinn Fein are supposed to represent the people, and in this case they are simply forcing their brand of socialism down our throats with no apparent strategy or method of delivery.
It is a disgrace.
Posted by Steven73 | 07.09.09, 14:33 GMT
@M A, that's the exact opposite of the actual problem! If she'd dictated policy then this would've been sorted out by now.
What's happened is the typical N.I. nonsense. All the politicians became so entrenched they couldn't get to a genuine agreement, she's then allowed the schools to do as they please and here we are, nobodies happy!
Posted by Farrah | 07.09.09, 13:35 GMT
Does BT really think that parents are stupid and cannot make decisions based on the information currently being released by the Department and the Primary Schools.
Posted by GDW | 07.09.09, 13:09 GMT
It's a sad state of affairs the Assembly - collectively - has put education in - shame!
Posted by jon the raver | 07.09.09, 12:30 GMT
My child is unlikely to get a place in our local grammar school despite being top of her class in primary school, should we follow Catriona Ruane's advice, because we are hard working parents, and our child does not qualify for free school meals. She advises the schools not to use academic criteria, yet the Dept of Education now admits that a child will probably not be offered a place at a grammar school without doing a test. So we are in the position of putting our child in for 5 tests to get a place in a grammar school because of conflicting advice between Catriona Ruane and her Dept, to get into our nearest school. Does it really matter whether you qualify for a free school meal or not? Surely if the child is academically able to survive in a grammar school, then this is more important than what you have for lunch!
Posted by Packed Lunch | 07.09.09, 12:24 GMT
28 Comments